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One problem I’ve wrestled with, campaigns wise, is: if one side gets the ‘jump’ on the other with overwhelming superiority- what prevents the weaker side just setting up everything far back, and running off the board before the stronger side can close?

Napoleon had no luck that day. It was unexpected that the Austrians reacted so quickly. But he still could have done it. The weather probably made him depressed. 😮‍💨 The second battle was a solid victory for the Allies payed in Prussian blood. It remains exciting...

Happy New Year! Some tough decisions again, but I seem to be on trend with my assessment. 😉 By the way, I think the division of the area is a great idea.

Sorry I missed the live stream. I lost another stepson this morning. My only thought regarding the upcoming turn is that the central Allied army shouldn't be caught strung out as they know Napoleon is in striking distance. I think that at least both the Prussian and Russian corps should be deployed on the battlefield if both French corps can do so. The Allied tokens are side by side on the map just like the French. It's not like Napoleon can spring a sudden ambush against an enemy who is prepared for the possibility of his attacking from the same direction as before, and in terrible weather too. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Will. Best wishes to you and your new wife.

What a session, lots of fun and a very interesting turn of events.

A very interesting turn there, I think overall the advantage went to the coalition but only slightly. The French do have a path to victory but It will take good weather and good leadership but I think uniting and breaking the allied centre is the way to go Napoleon strikes from the North and Ney hits them from the Flank. If successful the allied centre fall apart and the French can then move on mass against the now more isolated wings. That is if everything goes to plan. Famous last words.

Very interesting turn there. That was a hard turn for the French, with our forces so far apart its hard to gain an advantage in any location to try and turn things around, but overall this turn we didnt make any major blunders, inflicted some good casualties but shame about the loss of the bridge in the south.

Please pardon the lengthy comment incoming, lol. First, there was a repeat of the central battle in my video replay, but no report on the battle at Joinville with Ney against the single Allied corps. I'm assuming that didn't go well for the Allied corps since the flag marker is gone later in the video. Still, regardless of that result, I think that Ney's force is cut off from supplies. Being in France and considering the time of year, his army can't rely on the standard French foraging tricks for political reasons. Meanwhile, the Allied corps that flanked him and are now sitting across his supply line to Paris have a road leading directly east over which they can bring their supply trains. I think that should have a pretty large impact on Ney's operations imo. Since I brought up lines of communication issues, let's turn this around and point out that both the Russians and Prussians had absolutely no qualms about ravaging the French countryside taking whatever they wanted. In fact, from my reading, they were really savage in their depredations inside France. I think this adds to the argument that Allied supply lines need not totally relied on for the sustenance of their armies regarding food and fodder. Again, this is my take on the scenario. As for Napoleon's strike at the Allies, that really was a best-case scenario for the Allies short of the French hanging around to fight it out and getting badly whipped. I think the French effort was rather half-hearted considering the distance they marched to achieve this opportunity. My two cents worth is that the 3 Allied corps need to stay in a compact triangle formation and keep pressing northeast to a point in-between Suzanne and Fere-Champeoise which lets them cover their supply line while still pushing toward Paris, giving Napoleon a dilemma regarding Ney. By triangle formation, I mean one corps travels cross-country while the other two use the road net even if it slows down the overall army march rate. It's a three corps variation of the battalion carre formation that Napoleon used in nearly all his Grand Armee campaigns where each corps was in a half day or less marching distance of supporting the others. if Napoleon wants to renew his attack, close up and meet it. If he moves east to help Ney, use one corps to march northeast and cut his lines of communication while the others harry his flank. As for the south, I proposed last week that one Allied corps throw a pontoon bridge across the river between the two towns where the battles ended up being fought, forcing the French to weaken one or both of their corps to meet it or else let them cross unmolested and either fight it out or retreat. Still, the fighting turned out in our favor with the Prussians forcing a passage rather handily and gaining a bridgehead. Going forward, I still favor one corps continuing along the southern road toward Sens which eventually leads to Fontainebleau , where I believe Marmont eventually surrendered his army? The other 3 corps of the southern army should continue pressing northeast toward Nogent or Montereau to threaten Paris. From there, they can either cross the Seine ag go at Paris from the southeast, or use the river as a screen as they slide west (this would require a pontoon bridge crossing below Montereau) to move up from Fontainebleau and attack Paris from the south. One final general campaign mechanic comment. Right now, both sides make their option choices and then weather is rolled for. This week saw heavy rain, which I believe the actual commanders of both sides would have recognized as really bad for offensive operations. I rather doubt any of them would have decided to launch major attacks in such weather, but instead would have used the week to maneuver or dig in. This would have actually benefitted the French in the south as the Allied attack would have been stalled by the rain-swollen river and the unreliability of gunpowder weapons. May I suggest that you handle the next turn on Friday as you have, but at the end of that stream, you roll for the weather that will affect the campaign after the conclusion of week 5's battles. In other words, when you make your next battle report, before you suggest options, state the weather conditions for the upcoming week. All in all, this campaign is developing in an interesting direction. I feel the French are too scattered to make any serious counterpunches while the Allies have enough manpower to keep the French backpedaling. Congratulations to the Allied tactical commands for their level-headedness and effective troop handling.

Doing a campaign like this, I’m always impressed. Keep em coming.

Bit tough on the French who really should have fared better that turn. Ney is isolated and has to be wary of being attacked from both the North and the West, so moving west only invites this, probably the best chance is to strike north and hopefully damage the two corps there. Napoleon could go risky again and try to link with Ney to surround and take out the centre Coalition corps, but if it goes wrong it will be disaster as it leaves Paris wide open. Therefore I suggest falling back kind of South Westerly to link with the Guards and Reserve. Talking of the southern forces, they should move NW to attempt to link with Napoleon, aiing to be on the northern bank of the river. No real scares for the coalition , the southern forces continue to press west, engaging when possible, In the north the two corps should continue their personal war with Ney. The centre however needs some thought. Attacking Ney is attractive but hands the campaign initiative back to the French, moving away from threatening Paris. A better move is to stay compact and continue westwards , daring Napoleon to attack, but at the same time denying the Guard and Reserve any easy river crossing. As usual William , great batreps, looking forward to the next one

Yet another excellent batrep William!! We needed an extra couple turns befire the reinforcements came!! The dice are Prussians I feel lol. Looking forward to voting, will there be live chat this week?

My favorite period!

Great tutorial. Now to cover my 6mm, 15mm and 28mm armies!

I discovered this channel just in time, as I've started on Napoleonic wargaming. Could you please do Russian line infantry speedpainting? I absolutely love your channel! you've earned a new subscriber ;)

Just jumped in Have now 1800 + figures mounted by regiment. 10 regiments for each side with a few big ones. Organized into 3 Brigades for orders and activation. Enough for a division vs division clash. Made our own rules. 🗽

Am really enjoying how you have put this together.

The French center is wide open. Huge hole.

Sorry keep missing the live chat, real life gets in the way. Lucky , lucky French, looks like that really good event has given them a get out of jail card, albeit it is very reliant on Nappy smashing those corps in the centre and a good result for the Guards. Interesting to see the results as it looks like despite being outgeneralled for three turns, Napoleon's now got the upper hand more through good luck than judgement. However, attrition and the larger Coalition forces may be an obstacle to landing a killer blow.

Great session today. The strategies are really coming together.

Have a great New year gang. This was a good turn. I really like the idea of the multiple different votes.

Happy New year everyone.

Happy new year guy's, where are you based?

A Happy New year to everyone. Well that was an interesting move, even if I don't think the overall position changed much. That said I do like the idea of splitting the map into three zones, gives more options. I still think the French are under the cosh strategically and need a new plan. I am inclined to let the Eastern force to withdraw slowly, mainly to hold those corps facing them, given they will not have much effect elsewhere. The Guard and Reserve could hold but this may allow the Coalition to funnel forces north to support the main effort, so I would suggest they need to move generally North West, but support each other to prevent one or the other being surrounded. There is a strong case for Napoleon to move aggressively and try to catch the centre enemy on the road, but it is a gamble. I am more inclined to be prudent and move back to Sezanne and await reinforcements and potentially link with the Guards somewhere near Provins. The Coalition as before is more straightforward. In the East keep the French in sight but do not attack , rather steadily regroup and reinforce. The Centre can continue westward, taking a risk of the river at their backs following the river road to Provins. The Western force could carry on being aggressive, but crossing rivers under fire may prove costly. I would suugest a corps from each group can hold the crossing - enough to deter the French. Meanwhile the remainder now move Northesterly, aiming to link with the centre again around Provins, the resultant large force should be able to take the battle to napoleon on very good odds Sezanne to be this campaign's Leipzig?

Happy New Year everybody! I like the 3 region option plan as long as there are individual initiative rolls for each. I think that adds even more dynamism and uncertainty to the campaign. Nice generalship by Blucher to extract his corp and unite with the Russians. Destroying the French dragoons in the process was a bonus.

Great episode, my faith in my emperor holds strong. I like the idea of new style voting.

Happy New Year one and all!!

Happy New year and a new year of good games.🎉

So back up to date. Hope you had a nice Christmas holiday. With the now faster advance in the center, the French are split. Not a good position for things to come. Happy New Year. 👋🏻

Rolling out the options seems to work well. Makes things more interesting.

I'm lying back a bit again and missed a interesting small battle. 👌🏻

I hope you are going to show a game of part of a specific battle and explain how you went about this. I mentioned in comments on an earlier video that I’ve been gaming for over 60 years unfortunately my wife is too ill to come with me to any of the shows. ( BritCon. ) when it was in Manchester was great and not too far to drive from N.Wales However during Covid 19 restrictions I noticed my wife’s illness developing. So I can’t leave her alone. A project on video like this Is great , I hope you continue to

I’m looking to paint 7th Hussars at Waterloo. The photos I’ve seen, one of which you show near the end shows their trousers blue? Or are they actually white?

Sorry missed the live chat but catching up now. Looks like the French are in a world of hurt and to now have been out generalled. The Coalition have the upper hand and really just have to keep the three French forces separated, while pushing trhe centre group along the northwestern roads to Paris. The only chance I can see for the French at the moment is a dash of Napoleon magic. he might be able to move the two centre corps south westwards aiming to catch and smash the lead corps of the Coalition and then defeat the other two piecemeal or at the very least fight on equal terms, If he can do this the tide turns and the Coalition are now the ones struggling to move and take Paris, but it is a big gamble Need something from the French centre because the outlook, especially in the South is grim

Great episode, thanks 🍺

Nice work. I would suggest adding oily steel or black to the wheel rims.

Merry Christmas. David Farrell is my real name.

Blucher's battle was a tactical minor defeat, but I consider it a strategic success as they managed to withdraw in good order and are falling back towards their supports while the French are marching further away, lengthening their supply lines in the process. The southern fight was tough regarding the casualties, but we are on the offensive and we were up against the Corsican Ogre's best troops, which we managed to send packing in some disorder. I think one big strategic plus is that the French lost their cuirassiers, making the French cavalry shortage even worse. Going forward, Option 2 is my choice, but I would like to add a few refinements. Blucher needs to combine with the Russian corps and just continue to tease the western French force, luring them further away from their supporting corps. Avoid combat as much as possible, but be ready to pursue if the French pull back. The southern four corps must keep the pressure on the Guard and Reserve corps, ideally pushing them directly west. I think Platov's corps is down on the southernmost road, and they should continue parallelling the French, always threatening their flank and line of communication to Paris. The other southern corps should engage when they can get all three of their corps into the fight. As for the center three corps, I advocate their advance to Arcis-Sur-Aube via Brienne, then moving on either Fere Champenoise or Suzanne depending on the moves made by the French marching from Vitry-le-Francoise. Taking this route blocks any reinforcements from the north aiding the Guard/Reserve force while maintaining a constant threat on the northern French supply lines and one of the direct routes to Paris. They also will be in a position to move south if one or both of the Guard/Reserve corps move toward the Aube River, or north if the leading French northern corps approaches the Aube in isolation from the northernmost French corps. One question I have regarding the basing of the troops. Do the blocks of infantry represent division size units? You referred to them as regiments in the video. An entire Prussian corps consists of two blocks of infantry, which is why I ask the question.